India beat Pakistan 4-2 in the penalty shoot-outs of the final of the Men’ Hockey in the 17th Asian Games at the Seonhak Stadium Incheon on Thursday. The 60 minutes of the match ended leveled at 1-1. With this win, India also qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics While, Mohammad Rizwan scored for Pakistan, Kothajit equalised for India in the dying minutes of the second quarter. It was an exhilarating typical India-Pakistan hockey encounter, full of flair, attack and pace.
The ultimate battle of hockey was set up as India was set to face Pakistan in the men’s hockey final at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon. Earlier India had beaten South Korea 1-0 and Pakistan qualified to the final by beating Malaysia. The hosts then went on to beat Malaysia to finish third. India came in to the match after losing 0-1 to Pakistan in the group stage.
The match started off on a wrong for a India as a casual display in defence led to them conceding an easy goal in the third minute of the match. Mohammad Rizwan opened the account for Pakistan The task was always going to be uphill from thereon. Pakistan’s method from thereon was evident. The pace of their game became slower in the second quarter. However, India continued to attack and kept the tempo of their game high.
Towards the second half of the first quarter, there were quite a few attempts made on goal by India. However, a few amazing saves by the Pakistani goalkeeper and their defenders ensured that India couldn’t get off the mark with their first goal. However, India continued to put pressure on Pakistan’s defence which eventually paid off as Pakistani defender deflected the ball on his own leg, giving India its first penalty corner and himself a red card.
Both the sides had nothing to boast about in the penalty corner chances they got. India failed to convert two of them and Pakistan couldn’t succeed in one. finally when it came down to penalty shoot-outs, India beat Pakistan 4-2 to win an exhilarating contest. Pakistan too were gracious in defeat as they thanked the crowd that had gathered to watch the arch rivals take on each other.
Nonetheless, India failed to convert the penalty corner as the Pakistani goalkeeper made another spectacular save. But against the run of play, Kothajit stuck his stick out near Pakistan’s goal post and got India the equaliser in the dying minutes of the second quarter.
